The Norwich in 90 service is welcomed at Liverpool Street by left to right (front row). Jamie Burles (MD, Greater Anglia) Priti Patel MP for Witham & GEML Chair, Meliha Dumas (MD Network Rail, Anglia) and Jo Churchill MP for Bury St Edmunds.
GEML Taskforce Chairman Priti Patel MP welcomes new fast train services from Norwich and Ipswich
Witham MP, Priti Patel, Chair of the Great Eastern Mainline Taskforce (GEML), has welcomed the launch of two new Greater Anglia fast train services from Norwich to London and Ipswich to London. The new ‘Norwich in 90’ and ‘Ipswich in 60’ services started on Monday (20th May) and provide Norwich to London, Liverpool Street trains at 9am and 5pm and return services at 11am and 7pm. Ms Patel was among the welcoming committee of dignitaries that welcomed the train to London, Liverpool Street today on its inaugural run.
These new services are a major achievement for the GEML Taskforce which was created to work for reduced journey times, delivery of the rail capacity and connectivity needed to drive economic growth, support extensive new housing growth in the region and improve the travelling experience for passengers.
Speaking after the launch of the service at London Liverpool Street, Ms Patel said: “Having established the Great Eastern Main Line Taskforce in 2013 and worked closely with rail user groups, local businesses, and MPs, I am delighted to see these new services getting underway today. The new ‘Norwich in 90’ and ‘Ipswich in 60’ services are another major achievement for the GEML Taskforce, and featured in our original rail investment prospectus to the Government for the Greater Anglia franchise. These new services build on GEML’s other recent successes including the launch of Delay Repay 15 (passenger refunds for late running services over 15 minutes) and the securing of more than £1bn funding for new Greater Anglia trains due to come into service within a matter of weeks.
“My focus is to continue to secure long term investment designed to both help commuters with their daily journeys and to enhance the business environment in our region. To achieve this, the Taskforce is working on preparing the case for long term investment on the GEML to deliver high quality infrastructure upgrades and enhancements to improve passenger experience and support economic growth in East Anglia.”